Fastener for refrigerator doors



I 1,619,831 Marh 8, 1927. A RUBIN FASTENER FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS FiledDeo. 5,@ 1925 Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

'narran sra'rss senr tries;

.ADLPH RUBIN, OF ST. L'IS, MSSOUR, ASSIGNOB, BY MEENE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

ARCADE MANUFACTURER@ CDMANY,

F ILLINOIS.

0F FREEPGRT, ILLINOES, A CORPORATION FASTENER FR BEFvRG-ERATOR DOORS.

Application filed Beoember 5,1925. Serial No. 73,391.

This invention relates to refrigerator door fasteners of the generaltype described in my prior U. S. Patent No. 1,519,267, dated December'16, 1924.-. which comprise a latch arranged so that it Will clear thekeeper When the refrigerator door is moving into it-s closed position,and thereafter Will move automatically into interlocking engagement withthe keeper.

The main object of my present invention to provide a door fastener ofthe general type mentioned that is inexpensive to manufacture, and whichis particularly adapted for use on small refrigerators such as are usedin homes or dwellings.

Another object is to provide la door fastener of the general typementioned, which is of such design that many of the parts of same can beformedfrom sheet metal stampings, Cther objects and desirable featuresof my invention Will be'hereinafter pointed out.

Figure l of the drawings is afront eleva.- tional view of a refrigeratordoor fastener constructed in accordance with my present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of said fastener. showing the latchin its depressed Liosition in interlocking engagement with the keeperwhich is shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the casing of thefastener in section and the latch in its elevated position orinoperative position.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the fastener, the trigger and the springthat is used for actuating said parts, the casing of the fastener beingomitted, so as to'more clearly illustrate the way said parts arearranged.

Figure 5i is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 5`5 ofFigure 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, the casingof the fastener being shown in section.

Figure 6 is a det-ail sectional View, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the trigger inits inoperative position.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the part shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, illustrating how theWedge-shaped end of the actuating spring shifts the trigger laterallyinto its operative position.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of myinvention. A designates the casing of the fastener which is adapted tobe mounted on a refrigerator door B designates the latch whichpreferably `consists of an oscillating` member or pivotallymountedmember arranged inside of the casing in such a Way that a portion 1 atits free end projects laterally through a side opening in the casing.designates the keeper Which is adapted to be mounted on a stationarypart of the refrigerator adjacent the side edge of the door a', so thatit will eo-operate with the portion 1 of the latch B to retain therefrigerator door in its closed position. D designates the handle of thefastener pivotally connected by a pintle pin 2 to forwardly-projectingears 3 on the casing` and provided with an angularly-disposed arm iarranged in a hole 5 in the latch B, as shown in Figure t,` therebypermitting the latch to be raised or movedupvvardly into its operativeposition by swinging the handle D forwardly. E designates as an entiretythe trigger that is used to retain the latch in its elevated orinoperated position, and F designates a spring Which normally exertspressure on the latch B in a direction tending to move it downwardly andwhich is combined vvithY the triggerE in such a manner that it movessaid trigger into operative relationship With the latch B so as to holdsaid latch in its inoperative positon Whenever the handle D is actuatedto raise the latch. In l order that the trigger E will be automaticallydisengaged from the latch, after the portion l on the latch has clearedthe keeper C, when the*refrigerator door is moving into its closedposition, thev trigger E is provided with a tripping device G Whchis soarranged that it strikes against an abutment 7A on the keeper C justbefore the refrigerator door reaches its closed position, the furthermovement of the door causing the abutment 7 to exert pressure on thetripping device 6 in a direction to disengage the trigger E from thelatch and thus permit the portion 1 on the latch to move down- Wardlyinto interlocking engagement With the keeper C through the influence ofthe spring I* In my present door fastener the trigger E is formed by ahorizontally-disposed lever arranged under the latch B, as shown inFigure 4, and provided adjacent its free end with an upwardly-projectingarm 8 disposed so that it will lie in a vertical plane at one side ofthe latch B when said latch is in its depressed position and when saidtrigger is in its inoperative position, said arms lying in the samevertical plane as the latch when said latch is in its raised oroperative position and when said trigger is in its operative position.The means that is used to swing the trigger E laterally so as to movethe arm V8 thereon into and .out of operative relation withthe latch Bconsists of a wedge or tapered member 9 formed preferably. by one endportion of the Vs ring lt and arranged between the trigger lt and anabutment formed by an inclined surface 10 that is stationary withreference to said trigger. The spring F is substantially lC-shaped ingeneral outline and is arranged with its upper end portion in engagementwith the top side of the latch B and its lower end portion, whichcarries `the wedge 9, 1n engagement with the trigger E and thestationary inclined abutment l() that is arranged `at one side of saidtrigger. lV hen the refrigerator door is in its closed position thespring F holds the latch B depressed. At this time theupwardlyprojecting Varm 8 on the trigger E lies at `one side of thelatch between said latch and the front wall of the casing of the lock,and the 4wedge 9 on the lower end of the spring F engages the trigger Eand the stationary inclined surface 10, `as shown in Figure 6. lVhen thehandle D is actuated Vto raise thelatch, the upward movement of thelatch increases the tension of the spring F, or moves said spring insuch a way that the wedge 9 thereonvmoves upwardly between thestationary inclined surface l0 and the trigger E, thus causing saidtrigger to swing-laterally in a direction to move theupwardly-projecting arm e thereon into operative position beneathYtbelatch B. ,Soelong as the trigger remains in thisY position, thelatch B remains in its elevated posit-ion. Consequently., when therefrigerator door moves towards its closed position, the portion l onthe end of thelatch will clear the keeper C, andjust before therefrigerator door reaches itsfully closed position, the tripping device6 on the trigger strikes against the stop 7, with the .result that thearm 8 on the trigger is automatically disengaged from thelatch1 whichlatch Vthereafter moves downwardly into engagement with the keeper underthe influence of the spring F. The particular shape or form of the wedge9 is immaterial, sol long as it be pointed or tapered and arranged tomove between a portion of the trigger E and a stationary member orabutment which is disposed in such relation with the trigger that themovement of said tapered or 4pointed element between said parts willcause the trigger to swing laterally in a direction to cause the arm 8thereon to hold the latch B in its inoperative position. I prefer,however, to make the trigger operating member 9 in the form of a flatwedge that constitutes the lower terminal Vportion of the spring F andprovide the trigger E with a notch 11, as shown in Figure, that extendsinwardly from one of the side edges of said trigger, so as to receivethe wedge 9, thereby permitting said vparts to; be compactly arranged,and hence,

making it well adapted for use on small f' refrigerators, such as areused in homes. rlhe part l0 previously referred to as a stationaryinclined surface is disposed op- .positely to the notch l1 in the sideedge of the trigger E, and while'I prefer to construct said part l0 inthevform of an inclined surface, this is not absolutely essential,although an inclined surface is desirable, in that it provides a bearingsurface of relativelyvgreat area for one of the inclined faces of theWedge 9. The essential thing is that the pointed or tapered member 9 bei-nterposed between a stationary part ,l0 and the trigger E in such aWay that when said tapered member 9 moves upwardly into the positionshown in Figure 8, 'it will cause the trigger E to swing laterally.

ln the form of my invention herein illus trated the latch B consists ofa sheet metal stamping of substantially channel shape in cross sectionwhose end portion l is swaged -orrpressedin such a way as to form asubstantially tubular member that co-operates with the keeper C, saidlatch being oscillatingly mounted on av pivot pin l2 on the inside ofthecasing A that is connected to thel front wall of said casing. lnorder that the latch will be held spaced away from the front wall ofthecasing A, thus providing a space for the upwardly-projecting arm 8 ontbe-trigger E, thepivot pin l).A is provided with a shoulder or enlargedportion l2, as shownin Figure 5. rl"he particular manner in which thetrigger E is mounted is also immaterial, so fares my broad idea is concer-ned. Vl prefer, however, to arrange a supporting member Gr insideofthe casing A of thefastener and connect one end of the trigger'Fi toan angularly-disposed flange 13 on saldsupporting member by means of apintle pin lll, the stationary part l() previously referred to againstwhich the wedge 9 bears being integrally connected to said flange 13,

as shown in Figure Ll. The supporting Vmember G is sustained at oneend'by the tio ati

lli)

lit)

provided with an integral latch guide that is positioned in an openingin the side wall of the casing A. In most instances said opening willconsist of a notch in the side wall of the casing, and movement of thelatch guide 15 relatively to said side Wall will be prevented by lugsl5*L on said latch guide that are seated in depressions in the top andbottom edges of said notch. The tripping portion 6 of the trigger lllprojects foi '\vardly through the latch guide 15 of the sui/)portingmember G, and if desired, said supporting member can be provided withone or more horizontally-disposed portions 16, as shown in Figure 4,that serve as a guide or bearing surface for the trigger E to slide uponwhen said trigger is shifted laterally into and out of operativeposition. ln assemliiling the parts of the fastener the trigger E isfirst pivotally connected to the. supporting member G and saidsupporting member and the latch B are then slipped over the pivot pin 12which projects in wardly from the front Wall of the casing A of thelock. rlhe end of said pivot pin 12 is then upset, as shown in Figure 5,so as to hold said parts in operative relationship, the opposite endportion of the supporting member G being interlocked With the side Wallof the casing by the lugs 15a on the latch guide 15 which Were insertedin the recesses in the casing provided for same before the supportingmember G Was slipped over the pivot pin 12. rlhe final step in theassembling operation is to insert the Wedge shaped loiver end portion 9of the spring F in the notch 11 in the trigger E and then snap the upperend portion of said spring into a hole provided for same in the top sideof the latch B.

A refrigerator door fastener of the construction above described isinexpensiveV to manufacture, due to the fact that most of the element-sof same can be formed from sheet metal stampings and it is reliable inoperation and can be used for small household refrigerators, because theco-operating parts of same are of rugged designs and are compactlyarranged, and the means that is used to actua-tc both the latch and thetrigger consists of a very stift' C-shaped spring l* Having thusdescribed my invention, what l el ai in new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A refrigerator door fastener providedI with a latch, means fordisengaging said latch from the keeper, a movable trigger for holdingsaid latch in an inoperative posi-l tion. and a substantially C-shapedspring combined with said latch and trigger for moving both of saidelements to render them operative.

2, A refrigerator door fastener provided with a latch, means fordisengaging said latch from the keeper, a shiftable trigger providedwith a portion that is adapted to move into and out of the plane ofthelatch, a tapered member for actuating the trigger, and a spring combinedWith said latch and with said tapered member' in such a Way as to causesaid tapered member to move the trigger into an operative position whenthe latch is disengaged from the keeper.

A refrigerator door fastener provided with a pivotally mounted latch,means for disengaging said latch from the keeper, a trigger for holdingsaid latch in an inoperative position, an abutment, a pointed ineinberadapted to be moved between said abutment andV trigger to render thetrigger operati e, and means for causing said pointed member to actuatethe trigger when the latch is disengaged from the keeper.

Il. .A refrigerator door fastener provided. with a pivotally mounted.latch, means for disengaging said latch from the keeper, a pivotallymounted trigger arranged adja cent said latch and provided With aportion that is adapted to move into the plane of the latch, an abutmentarranged adjacent the trigger, a Wedge that is adapted to move betweensaid abutment and trigger to render the trigger operative, and a springcombined with said latch and Wedge for causing said Wedge to operate andfor causing the latch to move into engagement With the keeper when thetrigger is rendered in operative.

5. A refrigerator door fastener provided with a pivotally mounted latch,means for disengaging said latch from the keeper, a pivotally mountedtrigger provided with a portion that is adapted to move into and out ofthe plane of the latch, an abutment adjacent said trigger, and asubstantially Cshaped spring having one of its ends arranged inengagement with the latch and provided at its opposite end. With a Wedgethat is adapted to be forced between the abutment and trigger when thelatch is disengaged from the keeper.

6. A refrigerator door fastener provided With a pivotally mounted latch,means for disengaging said latch from the keeper, a

pivotally mounted trigger adjacent the latch that swings atsubstantially right angles to the latch, a portion on said. trigger thatis adapted to hold the latch inoperative when said trigger swings in onedirection, and a substantially C-shaped spring having its upper endportion engaged With the latch and provided at its lower end portionWith a Wedge that causes the trigger to swing laterally into anoperative position when the latch is disengaged from the keeper.

7. A refrigerator door fastener provided with a pivotally mounted latch,means for disengaging said latch from the keeper, a pivotally mountedtrigger arranged to swing at substantially right angles to the latch andprovided with a portion that is adapted to engage and hold it in aninoperative position, a stationary, inclined member arranged adjacentsaid trigger, a notch in one edge of said trigger, and a substantiallyC- shaped spring, arranged with one of its ends in engagement With thelatch and provided at its opposite end with a wedge positioned in thenotch in the trigger and arranged in engagement with said inclinedsurface.

8. A refrigerator door fastener, comprising a casing, a pivotallymounted latch inside of said casing provided With a portion thatprojects laterally through the casing, a handle on the exterior of thecasing for 4disengaging said latch from the keeper', a

supporting member inside of the casing provided with a guide for thelatch, a trigger pivotally connected to said supporting member vandprovided with a member adapted to move into and out of the plane of thelatch, and an actuating member adapted to move between the trigger and aportion of said supporting member to swing the trigger laterally into anoperative position when the latchis disengaged from the keeper.

9. A refrigerator door fastener, comprising a casing, a pivotallymounted latch in said casing, a handle for disengaging said latch fromthe keeper, a supporting member inside of the casing provided with aguide for the latch, means for interlocking said guide with the casing,a pivotally mounted trigger on said supporting member arranged to swingat substantially right angles to the latch and provided with a portionfor liolding the latch in an inoperative position, and a substantiallyC-shaped spring for rendering the latch operative and for causing thetrigger to swing laterally into an operative position when the latch isdisengaged from the keeper.

10. A refrigerator door fastener, com prising a casing, a pivot pincarried by said casing, a latch oscillatingly mounted on said pivot pinand provided with a portion that projects laterally through the sideWall of the casing, a handle on the exterior of the casing fordisengaging said latch from the keeper, f

a supporting member inside of the casing supported at one end by saidpivot pin, a latch guide on the opposite end of said supporting memberthat is interlocked with the casing, a pivot-ally mounted trigger onsaid supporting member arranged to swing at substantially right anglesto the latch and provided with a portion for holding the latch in aninoperative position, and a substantially C-shaped spring arranged withone of its ends in engagement With said latch and provided at itsopposite end With a vfedge that is adapted to be forced b'etween thetrigger and said supporting niember to swing the trigger laterally intoan operative position.

ll. A refrigerator door fastener, compris ingla casing, a pivotpininside of said casing, a pivotally mounted latch on said pivot pinprovided With a portion that projects laterally through the side Wall ofthe casing, a handle on the exterior of the casing for disengaging saidlatch from the keeper, a supporting member inside of the casingsupported at one end by said pivot pin and provided at its opposite endwith a latch guide that is interlocked with the casing, a triggerpivotally mounted on said supporting member under the latch, an arm onsaid trigger that is adapted to hold the latch in an inoperativeposition, a tripping device on said trigger that projects laterallythrough the latch `guide, a notch in one edge of said trigger, aninclined surface on said supporting member arranged adjacent said notch,and a substantially C-shaped spring arranged with its upper end inengagement `with the latch and provided at its loiver end surface.

ADOLPH RUBIN.

